The First Swing

Soren was born to a family of executioners in a duchy just north of Milan. One day when Soren was just a lad, his father was preparing a grave when Soren fell into it and fell unconscious. His father, Jacob, found him and brought him out flinching at how cold Soren was. However, upon being raised up out of the grave, Soren woke and his warmth returned. Fearing what had happened to his son, Jacob filled the grave and marked it with warding crosses.
Years later, Soren had taken over as executioner and was living contently. However, after his previous lord, Lord Aster Hargrave, had been appointed a new land and castle by the emperor, the new incoming lord, Lord Gregory Havil wanted to bring in his own executioner. Angry at not being able to because of the previous lords writ protecting Sorens family, Havil framed Soren for stealing his beautifully crafted sword. Soren was brought before a "trial" but only to put on airs for the people. Soren was then beheaded by his own fathers blade and buried in the warded grave he fell into as a child. That evening, Soren awoke in the grave looking up at the night sky. Soren noticed that the grave he was lying in was too "perfectly" dug, as if the dirt shifted into a perfect hole. After Soren, climbed up out of the grave and tried recalling what had happened, the grave closed behind him, appearing undisturbed as the day his father filled it. Soren then heard sounds of revelry from his home and remembered that he had been framed and beheaded by his new "lord". Filled with rage, he burst into his home to find his executioner, a guard, and "Lord" Havil. They were too drunk and in shock to respond as Soren reached for his fathers blade and claimed his vengeance from their heads. In his anger, lanterns fell and his home became engulfed in flame. Soren ran out with his fathers blade and the blade he was claimed to have stolen to watch his family burn with the bodies inside. Watching the flames dance, he regained his senses and realized what he had done and what had happened to him. Soren left with nothing but his clothes and the two swords he carried, ran.